Digitization in outpatient healthcare is steadily gaining in importance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an additional surge in demand for telemedicine services. However, there are still limitations that cannot be eliminated overnight.
The need to keep pace with digitization in healthcare is becoming increasingly clear. Measures have been taken for the use of telemedicine consultations, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Switzerland is lagging behind somewhat: currently, telemedicine services can only be billed via the tariff item “Telephone consultation by the specialist” in the outpatient tariff system TARMED – and this use is limited. A solution is currently being developed. This example shows that there are still a number of hurdles to overcome before digitization can fully take hold in practices. In general, however, the mood is positive. 85% of the physician community surveyed by the 2019 Digital Trends Survey said leveraging digital capabilities is important. Sometimes, however, individual abilities to handle digital options get in the way of the desire to use them.$
In principle, however, digital offerings can bring a decisive advantage for the practice. Because not only doctors, but also patients have a great interest in digitization. It turned out that the choice of a doctor’s office is definitely also made, for example, by the offer of an online appointment. Overall, it was found that the public’s interest in digital offerings is greater than the medical profession’s interest in investing in such offerings or obtaining more information about them. While the medical profession is primarily interested in online reference works, the general public sees added value particularly in automatic notifications of doctor’s appointments or waiting times. On the other hand, it is also a fact that patients appreciate personal contact and would not prefer a digital solution in all respects.
Source: “Digital Trends Survey 2019”, 06.05.2020, FMH
InFo ONCOLOGY & HEMATOLOGY 2020; 8(3): 36 (published 6/19/20, ahead of print).
CARDIOVASC 2020; 19(3): 40
